"I don't know, maybe you're mistaken," Cheng Tianhua admitted, uncharacteristically honest.
He and Song Yulian had been dating since they were young, and he had never heard of the Song family taking in an adopted child.
Feng Xianxu frowned, studying Cheng Tianhua's expression. "The Song family publicly stated that Song Yulian is their adopted daughter. You've never heard that?"
Widow Lin scoffed, "Nonsense. Song Yulian looks exactly like her mother. How could she be adopted!"
Cheng Tianhua nodded in agreement. "That's right. When I was dating Song Yulian, you youngsters weren't even born! If she's not the Song family's biological daughter, how would I not know? Where did you get this unreliable information from!"
Feng Xianxu inwardly sneered. If Old Master Feng had personally come to Yongcheng to investigate these matters, he wouldn't have so easily believed Cheng Tao.
Speaking of the past, Cheng Tianhua became garrulous. "Times were tough back then. Families had many children, and we couldn't even get enough to eat. Who would adopt a child? It was better to raise your own than someone else's!"
"Oh, no, the only child I know who was adopted was my deceased first wife, Cheng You's mother."
Although Jiang Qing wasn't the biological child of the Old Jiang family, they still doted on her. Otherwise, Cheng Tianhua wouldn't have been able to marry her.
Feng Xianxu narrowed his eyes. Cheng You's mother was adopted by the Old Jiang family? According to Cheng Tianhua, people didn't adopt children back then because they couldn't feed themselves. Moreover, the Old Jiang family had so many sons and a flourishing lineage.
Feng Xianxu feigned ignorance and asked, "Didn't you just say that people back then wouldn't adopt children?"
Cheng Tianhua let out a hiss and frowned, trying to recall. He and Jiang Qing had their sweet moments, especially when she was pregnant with Cheng You. He had been a good husband to Jiang Qing. Jiang Qing had naturally told him about her past.
He sighed, "There was a war then. The Old Jiang family was fleeing famine, and they found a child on the way."
The past was too distant, and Feng Xianxu couldn't recall which famine it was. He pressed, "When was she adopted?"
"Around '37, I think. I can't quite remember." Cheng Tianhua had only heard about it; he couldn't possibly remember Jiang Qing's affairs so clearly. He only knew that the Old Jiang family used the time they found Jiang Qing as her birthday.
Feng Xianxu's fingers suddenly tightened. A guess began to form in his mind, but he dared not jump to conclusions without confirmation. "Do you still have a photo of your first wife?"
Cheng Tianhua waved his hand, grinding his teeth. "Cheng You, that brat, took them all!"
Feng Xianxu took out ten yuan from his pocket and placed it in front of Widow Lin, saying hastily, "I've asked what I needed to ask. Thank you."
Leaving Wujing Village, Feng Xianxu cycled back rapidly. The timing matched. He just didn't know where the Old Jiang family found Jiang Qing. Many families abandoned their children during that period. He shouldn't harbor such high hopes, but he couldn't help but wonder. Cheng You's eyes resembled her grandmother's. The hint of heroism in her brows was very much like her grandfather's. He hadn't noticed it before, but now that a door had opened, he felt the resemblance growing stronger with every thought. He mechanically pedaled, wishing he could go faster, faster…
Finally reaching Qili Village, his heart pounded like a drum. He had attended a banquet here a couple of days ago and was familiar with the way to the Old Jiang family's home.
"Oh, aren't you that... Comrade Feng, right?" Liao Hongmei couldn't quite recall his name.
"Auntie, I'm Feng Xianxu. May I see Grandpa?" His sudden formality made Liao Hongmei a little flustered. She quickly ushered him inside. "He's in the house. Go in and talk to him."
"Okay." If Jiang Qing was his aunt, then the Old Jiang family was the Feng family's benefactor. Feng Xianxu naturally had to treat them with respect.
Elder Jiang was surprised by his arrival. "Little Feng, what brings you here...?"
After sitting down, Feng Xianxu first recounted the Feng family's story of losing their daughter, specifying the time and location. As he listened, Elder Jiang's expression grew increasingly serious. The timing was the same, and the location was also similar. This couldn't be a coincidence, could it?
"Little Feng, did your grandmother leave behind any tokens?"
Feng Xianxu nodded. "Yes!"
Liao Hongmei tentatively guessed, "Could it be a jade pendant and a bracelet?"
Feng Xianxu's lips trembled, and his throat choked. He couldn't speak the words. But seeing his expression, Elder Jiang already knew the answer. These couldn't all be coincidences.
"Little Feng, could my daughter be related to your family...?"
Feng Xianxu said hoarsely, "I'm not sure. May I see the tokens?"
Elder Jiang shook his head and sighed. "To be honest, during the famine, our family had many children, and I exchanged the jade pendant for grain. The bracelet is still here. Later, when Jiang Qing got married, I gave it to her as dowry. It should be with Cheng You now."
Feng Xianxu suddenly understood. So that's what happened. It was precisely because the jade pendant was sold that it ended up with Cheng Tao through a twist of fate. Feng Xianxu felt both joy and sorrow. Joy that Jiang Qing might be his aunt and had raised two such outstanding children; sorrow that Jiang Qing was no longer alive.
He decided to keep this matter to himself for now, needing to discuss it with his parents before making any decisions. The priority now was to expose Cheng Tao's true nature. A pretender didn't deserve to be in the Feng family.
Soon, it was time for Cheng You and her brother to return to Yan City. Cheng You felt an inexplicable unease because Feng Xianxu's gaze towards her and Cheng Wenyu was peculiar. It was as if a father was looking at his grown children, which made her uncomfortable.
Upon returning to Yan City, Cheng You wanted to take Cheng Wenyu to stay at the compound. Cheng Wenyu refused, preferring to stay at the guesthouse. Cheng You glared at him. "What's this? Are you being formal with your sister now?"
Cheng Wenyu smiled. "It's not formality, it's just not suitable."
"What's not suitable? I was even planning to buy you a place near your school."
"Then it's even more unsuitable!" Cheng Wenyu raised his voice. "Sister, I'm not a child anymore. I'm about to go to college. If I want a house in the future, I can buy it myself."
Feng Xianxu clapped him firmly on the shoulder, praising him. "Good. It's nothing for a young man to endure some hardship. Work hard, and you'll surely be able to settle down in Yan City."
Cheng Wenyu nodded with a smile. "That's what I'm thinking too."
Cheng You had great confidence in him. "Then I won't buy it for you. I'll wait to live in your new house in the future." However, Cheng You was not willing for Cheng Wenyu to stay at the guesthouse for now. She forcefully took Cheng Wenyu to the courtyard house, arranging for him to stay with Uncle Li's family for a while, to settle down and await the start of the school term.